Kids and mini · Two stroke

KTM 65 SX

The 65cc race bike most Australian kids step onto after a 50. Six speed gearbox, hydraulic clutch, real suspension, and the bike that fills the 65 class at every club. Sold in Australia from 1998 to 2026, 29 model years.

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About the KTM 65 SX

The 65 SX is the junior race bike between a 50 and an 85. It has a six speed gearbox with a hydraulic clutch, a power valve two stroke engine, proper WP suspension and disc brakes. It is the same bike as the Husqvarna TC 65 and GasGas MC 65, and between the three of them they are nearly every bike on a 65 grid in Australia.

It suits a kid from about seven to eleven who has learned clutch and gears on a 50 SX or a trail bike and wants to race. The Kawasaki KX65 and Yamaha YZ65 are the alternatives; the KTM is the fastest and holds its value the best.

What changed by year

2009 to 2015
Hydraulic clutch, strong engine, conventional fork. Reliable and cheap now.
2016 to 2023
New generation: new frame, engine and WP suspension with an air fork on later years. The common used bike.
2024 onwards
All new bike with a new frame, engine, bodywork and suspension. The current bike.

Servicing a 65 SX

Premix at 40:1 to 60:1 with a good full synthetic, gearbox oil every 5 to 10 hours (about 500 ml), air filter every ride. A racing 65 wants rings every 10 to 15 hours and a piston every 20 to 30. Clean the power valve at every top end.

The hydraulic clutch uses mineral oil on most years. Check the spokes and the chain adjusters often, and the air fork pressure on the bikes that have one.

Engine hours between jobs: the schedule the Digital Garage tracks for this bike, based on the manual. Racers and hard riders go sooner, as above. Ride in sand or mud and halve the engine ones.

JobEvery
Air filter clean and re-oil5h
Rings only replace8h
Chain clean, lube and adjust8h
Transmission oil change10h
Top end rebuild (piston and rings)15h
Spoke tension check15h
Fastener torque check15h
Cables and throttle lube25h
Air boot and intake seal check30h
Spark plug replace30h
Power valve clean40h
Silencer repack40h
Linkage bearings grease50h
Tyres inspect / replace50h
Tubes and rim locks50h
Rear brake pads50h
Reed valve inspect60h
Clutch plates inspect60h
Chain slider, guide and roller60h
Fork service (oil and seals)60h
Front brake pads60h
Grips inspect / replace60h
Bottom end inspect / rebuild80h
Carburettor / throttle body clean80h
Chain and sprockets replace80h
Shock service80h
Swingarm bearings grease80h
Steering head bearings grease80h
Wheel bearings inspect80h
Radiator, hoses and clamps80h
Brake discs inspect100h
Wiring and connectors100h
Water pump seal and impeller120h

Parts that fit a 65 SX

Everything that fits a 65 SX →

Buying a used KTM 65 SX

Buy from a family that raced and serviced it, with receipts. Do a compression test. Check the frame, subframe and radiators for crash damage, the clutch lever for firmness and the air fork for pressure. A 65 that has been raced hard by a fast kid and never had a top end is a rebuild.

Recent sold prices are on the Marketplace page linked below.

Used KTM 65 SXs for sale

1 listed on the MWMX Marketplace right now.

All KTM 65 SXs for sale and recent sold prices →

KTM 65 SX known issues

KTM 65 SX questions

What age is a 65 SX for?
Roughly seven to eleven, after a 50 and before an 85.
Does the 65 SX have a clutch?
Yes, a hydraulic clutch and a six speed gearbox. A child should have learned clutch and gears before moving onto one.
What premix ratio does a 65 SX use?
KTM says 60:1. Most racers run 40:1 to 50:1 with a good full synthetic.
How often does a 65 SX need a top end?
Rings every 10 to 15 hours and a piston every 20 to 30 for a race bike.

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